I felt like trying something out of the ordinary when my agent, Amira Quinlan, from Slaves Artist Management synchronistically called me and asked if I wanted to audition for a reality TV show. At that point, all of my on-screen work entailed being cast in international commercials or dance videos, and I felt that I needed to step out of my comfort zone for growth, so I accepted the challenge wholeheartedly.

Not only did I land the part, I ended up winning the show, and with that came many "first-time" experiences like media interviews and guest appearances for the flight of the first-ever South African TV series. My first magazine article was published in Fair Lady, and here is the first article that was featured in the news:

Cape Town: EJ, winner of the latest Fear Factor, is on a mission to be the best and says that she will grasp any challenge to break through "barriers."

"I'm always testing myself. Like with the Suicide Gorge at Hottentots Holland Mountains. You jump from waterfalls as high as 30 metres with no safety measures in place."

So when she heard that she would be a Fear Factor contestant, she was keen to prove to herself that she could be the winner.

In the first stunt, six contestants had to crawl out along a horizontal flagpole stretched five metres out from the tallest skyscraper in the middle of town and replace a flag at the end.

EJ impressed viewers when she whipped along the flagpole, replaced the flag, and raced back in record time.

During the second stunt, contestants were buried in the sand with only their heads exposed. Presenter Colin Moss poured sour milk and cream over their heads. A perspex container was then placed over their heads with dangling strawberries, and contestants had to eat as many strawberries as they could within a set time period.

"I knew we were going to eat something," the vegetarian managed to eat her way through to the third round, despite sore gums and torn cheeks caused by new orthodontic braces.

In the third stunt, the contestants had to launch a car into the Cape Town harbour. "It was the absolute best. I would have done it a million times over."

While her competitor attempted the stunt, EJ practiced yoga to prepare herself. She hurt her back during the stunt but says she was determined to get out of that car as soon as possible. "If I did not do yoga to strengthen me, I would have seriously injured myself."

Both contestants completed the task successfully, so tapes had to be replayed to establish who would be the champion, and EJ said, at that point, she "could feel" that she was the winner.

She attributes her success to being in tip-top shape. "Everything boils down to a healthy body and a healthy mind," she adds.

Fear Factor was broadcast on M-Net at 19:00 as a prime reality series.

In retrospect, it was an amazing experience, and I am happy that I had the courage to participate in an adventure as this. People still recognise me from the show and, from time-to-time, I am asked for my autograph, which is surreal and very humbling.

I won a reality TV show, and I never thought that I would ever get to say that—a fun fact.

Fun Fact by EJ for EJblogtv

an Enjoyment Journal about Everything EJ

xoxo